Jubal listened to the council everyone offered, the wheels in his mind slowly spinning.

"I think the monastery would be best. Our new friend here seems to feel there are answers there. But whatever we do, I suggest we NOT continue digging. That would pretty much be continuing the job that we just stopped."

He furrowed his brow. "Filling in the hole would be prudent, but unless we could do so magically, or at least could summon shovels, I'm not sure we want to spend our time doing that." He looked around at the others, silently hoping someone among them knew the Mold Earth cantrip.

"It's been awhile since I last got my claws dirty", remarks Xinq as he sheds his equipment and travelling clothes.

The speed at which a kobold can dig, relative to his small size, is nothing less than legendary. Of course, they would normally operate in packs and often enlist the help of specially tamed and trained giant badgers, but even so, Xinq is able to shift earth at a prodigious rate. "Magic", he says between breaths.

Without a word, Svent pulls out his shovel and moves along side Xinq, shoveling earth back into the hole.

Jubal raised an eyebrow as the kobold began digging at the earth to fill the hole. "That... also works," he said to himself, as he stared at his companion's steady speed.

He thought back to his recent library findings, and reached for his research notes. "Perhaps I can piece together and translate an Unseen Servant ritual quickly?" It was then that he noticed Svent shoveling alongside Xinq.

With a half-grin, Jubal just crossed his arms and shook his head, resigned to let the others have at it. Silenced by a simple implement--one that it hadn't even crossed his mind to pack. He glanced at Valyncia from the corner of his eye, half-expecting her to transform into a burrowing beast to accentuate the point.

Kairn steps forward. "Wait! There's something... different about this thing." He relays what he found out with identify. 

Xinq pauses, "This 'strong arcane pull from underground' concerns me. But I still think the best thing is to fill in the hole, until we understand more."

Vallen looks to Xinq and nods with a shrug, "I myself am curious what is below.  I firmly believe there was a reason they were digging and it may help solve this odd mystery."  He smiled with another soft shrug, "I'm still in favor of digging it up."

"Knowledge is my stock in trade", says Xinq. "But so is restraint".

And protecting Thornwood is mine Kairn says. If this is dangerous...I need to see it. I'm gonna start diggin'. If any want to help me out, I'd 'preciate it, but I won't ask you to stay.

Vallen looks to Kairn and nods, “I’ll help you.”  He looks about, “Anyone got an extra shovel or something I can use to help dig?”

"I agree we need to protect the town, Kairn, but I don't think it would do us any good trying to dig this thing out in the middle of a storm." Valyncia suggested, "Maybe better to leave it for now and come back when we don't have to fight the weather as well."

Xinq shrugs, "Rain bothers me little. I can stay and guard through the storm". He hunkers down in the hollow on the lee side of the stone.

After filling in the holes dug by the hyenas, the group debates on whether they should dig the holes again to discover what lay below the surface. 

[To determine how far away the storm is, roll a nature check DC12 to read:]

 Whether you decide to dig or not, all of you notice that the forest life that should be present is absent. You do not see or hear any signs of the hyenas that had attacked earlier. The obelisk draws your in with a mystical warmth that feels inviting and welcoming. Those unfamiliar with this place would find the sensation quite odd but possible pleasant. 

21

Kairn shakes his head. That storm's miles away. We can get this dug out and get back in plenty of time.

Vallen looks about, “Odd though... I mean I’m not familiar with the land here, but there seems to be a lack of life here... is that normal around this particular area?” He looks to Kairn, “I’m still favor of digging.”

"Just the opposite." Valyncia explained to Vallen, "This place used to attract the creatures of the forest, it had a calming effect on them even. For this place to be empty of animals now feels very strange to me." She also turned to Kairn as she continued, "You have a point, if you think this is the best idea then we best do it quickly." Moving in next to the dwarf, the tall shifter began helping him dig.

Vallen without a shovel would stow his warhammer and use his shield to help dig the area up. 

Kairn grins at them, and pulls a large crowbar out, using it to dig out clods of dirt and rocks like a pick.

(( Jubal's Nature Check: 19 ))

Jubal was flummoxed. Even if they had time, were they really going to dig up the rest of the obelisk, doing the very same thing they had stopped the monk from doing?

He glanced her way, wondering what she thought of the situation.

(( He's not really scrutinizing her, just relying on his Passive Insight of 12 to pick up anything obvious. ))